Notes and Editorial Reviews
Brian Israel studied with Ulysses Kay, Robert Palmer, Burrill Phillips and Karel Husa. He graduated from Cornell in 1975. He taught at Syracuse University for 12 years until his untimely death at 35. His In Praise of Practically Nothing for tenor voice and eight-player Chamber ensemble was composed in Syracuse and is a setting of poems by Samuel Hoffenstein. Gerald Levinson is professor of music and former chair of the Department of Music and Dance at Swarthmore College. He studied composition with George Crumb, Richard Wernick and George Rochberg. His work in dark is a setting of poems by Nanine Valen and Robert Lax. David Noon is a graduate of Yale. His teachers have included Milhaud, Charles Jones, Yehudi Wyner and Mario Davidovsky. His
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Six Chansons were composed when he was a Fulbright Fellow in Warsaw, Poland. They are settings of six poems by the great Chinese master of the late Tang dynasty, Meng Chiao. Noon translated the poems into French. Robert Stern was educated at Eastman. He studied with Louis Mennini, Kent Kennan, Wayne Barlow, Lukas Foss and Howard Hanson. He writes: "Blood and Milk Songs takes its name from Blood and Milk Poems, a volume by Ruth Whitman. The lyric quality of the poetry is mirrored in the music, which is propelled by a strong melodic impulse." -
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Works on This Recording
1.
In Praise of Practically Nothing by Brian Israel
Performer:
Courtenay Hardy (Flute),
Charles Hansen (Bassoon),
Gustav John III Rieckhoff (French Horn),
Lee Joiner (Violin),
Elizabeth Anderson (Cello),
Jeffrey Turner (Double Bass),
Cary Ratcliff (Piano),
Frank Baluffi (Percussion),
Jeffrey Fahnestock (Tenor)
Conductor:
Sydney Hodkinson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Eastman Musica Nova
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1980; USA
Date of Recording: 11/29/1982
Venue: Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
Length: 14 Minutes 19 Secs.
Language: English
2.
In Dark by Gerald Levinson
Performer:
John Manno (Harp),
Walter Preucil (Cello),
Laura Kuennen (Viola),
Sylvia Davis (Flute),
Sylvia Davis (Alto Flute),
Diana Basso (Piccolo),
Diana Basso (Flute),
Howard Joines (Percussion),
Bryan Pezzone (Piano),
Elizabeth Fulford (Soprano),
Howard Potter (Percussion)
Conductor:
Sydney Hodkinson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Eastman Musica Nova
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1972
Date of Recording: 01/17/1982
Venue: Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
Length: 15 Minutes 13 Secs.
Language: English
3.
Chansons (6), Op. 32 by David Noon
Performer:
Hali Fieldman (Flute),
Hali Fieldman (Piccolo),
Susan Reath (Flute),
Susan Reath (Alto Flute),
Norman Boehm (Piano),
Frank Balluffi (Percussion),
Kristen Shiner (Percussion),
Alan Keating (Bass Clarinet),
Stacia Cronin (Piccolo),
Stacia Cronin (Flute),
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sydney Hodkinson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Eastman Musica Nova
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1972; USA
Date of Recording: 01/24/1983
Venue: Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
Length: 15 Minutes 52 Secs.
Language: French
4.
Blood and Milk Songs by Robert Stern
Performer:
Gregory Sandell (Celesta),
Gregory Sandell (Piano),
Elizabeth Anderson (Cello),
Hazel Mulligan (Violin),
Elizabeth Fulford (Soprano),
Deborah Kraus (Mezzo Soprano),
Polly Meyerding (Flute),
Polly Meyerding (Alto Flute),
Polly Meyerding (Piccolo),
Timothy Maloney (Clarinet),
Timothy Maloney (Bass Clarinet),
Deborah Nyack (Harp),
Robert Saenz (Percussion),
Howard Potter (Percussion)
Conductor:
Sydney Hodkinson
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Eastman Musica Nova
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1980; USA
Date of Recording: 11/14/1981
Venue: Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY
Length: 15 Minutes 52 Secs.
Language: English
Sound Samples
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 1. Miss Edna St. Vincent Millay Goes Wet
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 2. Poor Mr. Heine Suffers Some Translations and Gives Up
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 3. Lullabye
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 4. Yes, dear
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 5. Hymn
In Praise of Practically Nothing: No. 6. Morning Songs
In Dark: I. Adagio (vocalise)
In Dark: II. Andante, "the moon comes down"
In Dark: III. Scherzando, "in dark"
In Dark: IV. Lento, "they moved like fish"
In Dark: V. Liberamente, sempre espressivo (vocalise)
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 1. Wanderer's Song
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 2. An Excursion to the Dragon Pool Temple on Chung-nan
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 3. Complaint of a Neglected Wife
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 4. Sadness of the Gorges
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 5. Song of the Old Man of the Hills
6 Chansons, Op. 32: No. 6. The Stones Where the Haft Rotted
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 1. Prologue
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 2. Songs for a Vigil
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 3. Antiphonal
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 4. A Daughter Cuts Her Hair
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 5. Round
Blood and Milk Songs: No. 6. Letter to
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